Watch: Metallica performs a baffling cover of ABBA’s Dancing Queen
While out on their massive ‘Worldwired’ tour, thrash metal legends Metallica made a stop at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden for a sold-out gig over the last weekend (May 7). But the audience was surely not prepared for one of the most bizarre covers the band has ever played in it's near four-decade touring career.
Much to the surprise of the audience in the jam-packed arena, bassist Robert Trujillo and lead guitarist Kirk Hammet joined forces for a strange, yet wonderful cover of pop legends ABBA's dazzling 1976 hit 'Dancing Queen'. The duo turned up the funk by abandoning their signature distorted guitars for a cleaner, poppier sound. It was also a rare occasion as we got a glimpse of Robert Trujillo's singing skills.
Perhaps the 3-minute effort made sense considering the fact that ABBA is Swedish and the band was performing a homage in their home country. This is not the first time Metallica has pulled a stunt like this. In fact, on this current 'Worldwired' tour, the band has been covering tunes relevant to the city they’re playing in each night, and many of these have been very incongruent with the band's usual sonic feel. As part of their set in Norway, they offered up a version of A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me’.
Metallica recently announced the details of the 2018-2019 North American leg of its 'WorldWired' tour in support of the band's latest album, 'Hardwired… To Self-Destruct'. The sprawling 34-date trek kicks off on September 2 in Madison, Wisconsin and runs through March 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Additionally, each ticket purchase will be accompanied by a physical or digital copy of their latest album. Meanwhile, the ‘Worldwired’ run is set to conclude in Helsinki this Friday (May 11). Maybe they'll belt out a Children of Bodom cover for the fitting occasion.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, founding member and drummer Lars Ulrich spoke about how overwhelming it is to still be touring sold-out arenas. "It was, like, 'Holy f**k, people really still care about this band in ways that you stopped taking for granted literally decades ago," he said.
"It was very inspiring and kind of eye-opening... Doing a stadium run seemed like the perfect thing on the back of how well this record has been received and all the goodwill that's out there in Metallica's world right now," he added. Meanwhile, ABBA themselves have announced the release of their first new original music in 35 years. The group described their reunion as “an extremely joyful experience!